Automobile seat headrest



Dec., 6, 1949 W, A, PENN 499,088

AUTOMOBILE SEAT HEADREST Filed Sept. 5, 1947 QLAAVA'A' WAVE@ 711,111,110..

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Patented Dec. 6, 1.949

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to head rest devices for vehicle seats, and more particularly to a detachable head rest unit adapted to be secured to the back of a vehicle seat and to extend above the normal height of the seat to function as a cushioned support for the head of a passenger.

A main'object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved detachable head rest device adapted for securement to the back of a motor vehicle seat to provide a support for a passengers head so that the passenger may sleep or otherwise relax in a comfortable position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved head rest unit of very simple construction which is inexpensive to manufacture, very easy to install and readily adjustable to a desired angle of inclination.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a detachable head rest unit for an automobile seat constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the head rest unit of Figure 1 shown in installed position on the back of an automobile seat.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional enlarged detail view taken through the spring hook member of the head rest unit of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal crosssectional detail View of the top portion of the head rest unit showing an alternative means of connecting the cushion-carrying element of the unit to the main supporting element of said unit.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the modified structure shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, II designates a head rest cushion comprising a suitably rigid frame carrying a cushion matrix of foam rubber or the like, the frame and cushion matrix being covered with upholstering fabrics. The lower side edge portions of cushion II are pivotally secured at I2, I2 to a pair of upstanding lugs I3, I3 carried by a plate member I4 which is suitably curved to t over the top of an automoble seat.

Secured to the intermediate portion of plate member I4 by bolts I5, I5 is a channel-shaped member I6 having inturned flanges Il, I1 embracing the side edges of plate member I4. Integral with member I6 and depending from its rear portion is a plate member 2| which is inclined downwardly and forwardly so that it will lie adjacent to the rear surface of a seat back E9 when the unit is positioned as shown in Figure 2. The bolts l5 pass through parallel slots 2t, 2] formed in the plate member I4 so that the plate member 2l may be adjusted in accordance with varying thicknesses of automobile seat backs. Instead of adjustably securing the plate member I4 to the channel-shaped member It by means of the bolts i5, i5, the plate member i4 may be resiliently connected to said member I6 by a pair of springs 35, 35, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the springs being secured to lugs 35 and 31 carried respectively the plate member lil and the channel member i6. This provides an automatic adjustment between plate member I4 and channel member I6 to conform to the thickness of the top portion of an automobile seat back.

Plate member I@ carries at its rear central portion a pair of upstanding apertured lugs 22 between which is pivotally connected the end of an internally threaded sleeve member 23. Pivotally connected to the upper rear portion of cushion II is an internally threaded sleeve member 24 whose threads are opposite in sense to those of sleeve member 23. Threadedly engaged in the sleeve members 23 and 24 is a screw member 25 provided with a knurled intermediate flange 25. The respective threads on each side of the flange 26 correspond to and iit the threads in the respective sleeve members 23 and 24 so that by rotating the knurled flange 23 the inclination of cushion Il with respect to plate member I4 may be varied.

Plate member 2| carries a downwardly directed sleeve member I8 and at its bottom end said sleeve member I8 is formed with a bayonet slot 21. Telescopically received in sleeve member I8 is a tubular member 28 having a bayonet pin 29 projecting therefrom which is lockingly engageable with the bayonet slot 21.

Slidably carried inside tubular member 28 is a smaller tubular member 35i at the bottom end of which is formed a forwardly projecting rightangled hook arm 3l adapted to engage under the bottom of the automobile seat back I9 in the manner shown in Figure 2. Secured in the upper portion of tubular member 23 is a transverse pin 32 and secured in the lower portion o tubular member 3% is a transverse pin 33. Connecting pins 32 and 33 is a coiled spring 34 which biases the tubular member 30 upwardly in tubular member 28.

Spring 34 provides a resilient clamping action whereby the top and bottom edges of the seat back I9 are respectively clampingly engaged by the top channel member 96 and the hook arm 3l, as shown in Figure 2. This secures the head rest unit to the seat back I9 and allows the unit to be tted to seat backs of varying height. To remove the unit from a seat back, the tubular member Si! is pulled downwardly against the tension of spring 34 whereby the hook arm 3l may be disengaged from=thebottom. of the seat back.

When. the, head rest` unit isi to be stored' for future use, the tubular member 28 is detached from sleeve member I8 by disengaging the bayonet pin 28 from the bayonet slot 27 and withdrawing the tubular member 28 from the sleevemem'- ber I8.

The telescoping members i4 and I6 described above may alternatively befabricat'ed asltubular frames instead of plate elements, preferably connected internally by springs, in the manner shown in Figure 3, so that the telescoping frame members. are automaticallyV adjustable to conform to the variation4 in widths of the top portions of automobile seat backs as in Figure 5. By using tubing instead of plate'elements the weight of the rinitis-reduced, th'eunit' is lighter in appearance, and the' cost or construction' is decreased.

While a specific embodiment'of an adjustable hea'd'rest unit for aut'omo'bile'seat' backs has been disclosed in the foregoingA description, it will be understoodthat'various modications within the sp'ritof; the inventionA may'occur. to those skilled in the art; Therefore, it is` intended that no limitations be placed on the invention exceptpas. dened' by the scopeof the` appended claims.

What is claimedis:

1. A head restcomprising a support, an angled membersecuredto said support and adapted to engage thetop of a seatback'with anV arm thereof depending adjacent the rear surface of the seat back, Ia downwardly directed sleeve carried by said arm, a rst' tubular` member secured in said sleeve, a second tubular member` telescopically received in said' iirst tubualr member, a coiled spring connectingn the upper portion of said first tubularmember tothe lower portion of said second tubular memben, a hook element carried at thelower-end ofV said second'tubular member and engageable under the bottom edge of the seat 4 back, whereby the support is resiliently clamped to the seat back, a cushion member pivotally connected to said support and extending upwardly therefrom, and strut means connecting the rear portion of said cushion member to said support.

2. A head rest comprising a support, an angled member secured to said support and adapted to engage the top of a seat back with an arm thereof dependingV` adjacent the. rear surface of the seat back, a.downwardly-diredtedsleeve carried by said arm, a first tubular member secured in said sleeve. a. second tubular member telescopically received in said rst tubular member, a coiled spring connectingi the upper portion of said first tubular member to the lower portion of said .second tubular member, a hook element carried at the lower end: of said.second' tubular member and engageable under the bottom edge of the seat back, whereby the support is resiliently clamped to the seat back, and a cushion'fmember on said support.

3. A heady restcomprising a support, an angled member secured tolsaid support and adapted to engage the top of azseatback with an arm thereof depending adjacent to the rear surface of the seat back, a downwardly-directed member on said arm, a pair ofil telescopingI members engaged in said 'rst member, resilient means carried by said latter members for retractivelybiasing one of'said t'elescoping members within the other, a hook elementV carried atthe lower .end of one of said telescoping: members and engageable under the bottom edge ofthe, seat back, whereby the sup'- portisresiliently clamped-'to the seat back, and a` cushioned member onsaid support.

WHJLIAM A. PENNY.'v

REISERIEINCES.` CITED The following references'areY of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 313,781- Starr et al'; Mar. 10, 1885 344;302 CarricklV June 22, 1886 477,197 BarkerV June 21, 1892 668,765 Beach Feb. 26, 1901T 1,597,355v Fussell Aug. 21, 1926 

